Four killed in gang shooting near Kingstown, Saint Vincent
Four people were shot dead and four others wounded near the capital Kingstown in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday night. Police are searching for suspects.
Gang violence leaves four dead near Kingstown
Yahoo.com reports that police in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are hunting for suspects after a shooting in the Green Hill community in Central Kingstown left four people dead and four others injured on Friday night.
Acting Commissioner of Police Trevor Bailey told reporters at a Saturday press conference that officers arrived to find two bodies on a public road. "The body of a female was discovered in a vehicle that was parked on the public road, and on an adjacent piece of land another body was discovered," Bailey said.
A preliminary examination indicated all four victims sustained what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Four additional victims were taken to Milton Cato Memorial Hospital; two were treated and discharged, while two remained hospitalised on Saturday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Brenton Smith confirmed no arrests had been made. "As soon as the intelligence and investigation is completed, you will know the motives," Smith told reporters, adding that authorities had not yet publicly established a motive.
The attack follows a pattern of retaliatory gang violence between rival groups. Police have recorded 37 homicides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines so far this year. Bailey acknowledged the trend directly. "We have seen some retaliation … one group hitting back at another," he said. "We condemn it."
The 32-island nation is a popular yachting destination and relies heavily on tourism for income. Authorities said they were intensifying their response, including increased patrols, searches and greater intelligence-sharing among police units.
Bailey used the press conference to appeal to young people in the country. "I call upon the young people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to be model citizens, to desist from the path of crime and violence," he said. "Violence has no part in our society."
Source: Google News VC — Crime